Museum for Croke Park

Work has started on the development of a "state-of-the-art" museum costing £3 million in the New Stand in Croke Park. The museum, featuring all aspects of the GAA's past, present and future, is expected to attract as many as 70,000 people a year to the venue.

In another development, it is now hoped to begin the second phase of the rebuilding programme later this year or early in January. A sum of £35 million is to be spent on extending the New Stand over the Canal End terrace. The GAA is appealing to clubs, counties and individuals for items of interest which can be given or loaned for exhibition in the museum, which will be on the ground floor and mezzanine of the stand. It is hoped that the museum will be ready by the end of May next.

The museum will operate with the newest technology, including such things as "touch screen" displays. There will also be an "interactive" element which will allow visitors to measure their skills at Gaelic games. At present, it is not planned for the museum to open on match days, but that has not been ruled out. Croke Park is now on the way to becoming a genuine tourist attraction. Croke Park authorities now estimate that when the All-Ireland hurling and football final attendances are taken into account, the venue will have attracted more than 1,000,000 paying customers this year. This would mean some £10 million in gate receipts alone.